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US 9,955,817 B2Granted
Cooking grate assembly and cooking apparatus
AssigneeW.C. Bradley Co.
InventorMallik Ahmed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grate assembly for cooking food products and a grilling apparatus which uses the grate assembly for supporting the food during cooking. The grate assembly comprises: (a) a lower grate element having a series of parallel peak structures with valleys therebetween and (b) an upper grate element having a series of parallel food support ribs which are sized and spaced such that each rib will be positioned over the top of a corresponding peak structure. The upper food contacting surfaces of the ribs will remain substantially rust-free at atmospheric and cooking conditions.
Claims20
A grate assembly for cooking a food product comprising:
- a lower grate element having a series of substantially parallel peak structures with sidewalls extending from the peak structures to valleys therebetween;
- openings defined through lower portions of the valleys in a manner effective for (a) allowing grease and fat drippings produced when cooking meat products on said grate assembly to drain through said openings such that at least most of said grease and fat drippings will be prevented from igniting in said valleys and (b) preventing at least a majority of any flare-ups which occur beneath said lower grate element when cooking meat products on said grate assembly from penetrating upwardly through said openings;
- and
- an upper grate element having a series of substantially parallel food support ribs positioned above and substantially parallel to the peak structures;
- wherein except for the openings defined through lower portions of the valleys, the substantially parallel peak structures are substantially unperforated;
- and
- wherein as viewed from above, the openings lie between the parallel support ribs.
4 more elements
A grate assembly for cooking a food product comprising a lower grate element and an upper grate element wherein:
- said lower grate element comprises a series of at least substantially parallel peak structures;
- said lower grate element comprises valleys formed between said peak structures, said valleys having bottoms;
- each said peak structure has a cross-sectional shape comprising a top and opposing right and left side walls, wherein said right and left side walls extend from said tops of said peak structures to said bottoms of said valleys;
- each said valley has a cross-sectional shape in which at least a lower portion of said valley converges as it extends downwardly to said bottom;
- openings are provided through said lower portions of said valleys, said openings being sized and located in a manner effective for (a) allowing grease and fat drippings produced when cooking meat products on said grate assembly to drain through said openings such that at least most of said grease and fat drippings will be prevented from igniting in said valleys and (b) preventing at least a majority of any flare-ups which occur beneath said lower grate element when cooking meat products on said grate assembly from penetrating upwardly through said openings;
- said upper grate element comprises a series of at least substantially parallel food support ribs;
- and
- said upper grate element is positionable above said lower grate element and said food support ribs are spaced apart and sized such that, when said upper grate element is positioned above said lower grate element for cooking said food product, said food support ribs will be positioned over and run at least substantially parallel with said tops of corresponding ones of said peak structures.
5 more elements
A grate assembly for cooking a food product comprising a lower grate element and an upper grate element wherein:
- said lower grate element comprises a series of at least substantially parallel peak structures;
- said lower grate element comprises valleys formed between said peak structures, said valleys having bottoms;
- each said peak structure has a cross-sectional shape comprising a top and opposing right and left side walls, wherein said right and left side walls extend from said tops of said peak structures to said bottoms of said valleys;
- each said valley has a cross-sectional shape in which at least a lower portion of said valley converges at it extends downwardly to said bottom;
- except for openings which are provided through said bottoms of said valleys, said peak structures are at least substantially unperforated;
- said openings have diameters or widths in a range of from about 0.04 to 0.1 inches and a total open area provided by said openings does not exceed 25% of a total upper surface area of said lower grate element;
- said upper grate element comprises a series of at least substantially parallel food support ribs;
- and
- said upper grate element is positionable above said lower gate element and said food support ribs are spaced apart and sized such that, when said upper grate element is positioned above said lower grate element for cooking said food product, said food support ribs will be positioned over and run at least substantially parallel with said tops of corresponding ones of said peak structures and said openings in said bottoms of said valleys will be between said food support ribs.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.